The news comes to him one fine afternoon.

"Kaka-sensei," Naruto calls, because old habit dies hard and no matter how many times Kakashi told him to drop the 'sensei', Naruto isn't particularly the type of person who will listen and comply so easily. In Naruto's case it's more like an endearment than a title given to him by respect, after all, so Kakashi easily lets it slide.

"Yes, Naruto?" He looks up from the empty ramen bowl in front of him, feeling amusement and delight at the disappointed look on the blond's face. Some things never change after all; and one of them is his former students' curiosity regarding the face behind his mask.

Not that his face is anything special. But they don't know that and a mystery will always be appealing for people to try to reveal.

Naruto's pout quickly disappears, "I hear Sakura-chan's pregnant, 'ttebayo," he says, and for a moment, Kakashi is surprised. However, he quickly remembers his encounter with Sakura a few weeks ago, about the Uchiha and his dream to revive the clan by having at least five children.

It doesn't surprise him somewhat that Sakura doesn't come running to tell him; he's not that important anyway.

That Naruto even thinks of doing so for him is good enough, he supposes.

He swallows down any disbelieving and doubtful feelings toward his other male student and simply settles to focus on the positive side of things. It's a child; he's sure Sakura is rejoicing as well. She has always had a soft spot for children, after all.

"I see," he answers, nodding slightly. "That's good I suppose."

It's not a lie, therefore he can't hold a surprised blink when he sees Naruto's mulish expression. The blond man is crossing his arms, seemingly in deep thought despite the good news he had just delivered a few moments ago.

"Is something wrong, Naruto?"

"Yeah, well, no," Naruto mumbles, a frown on his face, "Ne, sensei, Sakura-chan's child won't be a teme like teme, right?"

Kakashi stares.

Silently, he cannot help but to wonder if Naruto knows what it means to have a baby, or if the man has some screw loose at the moment.

"…I don't know how to break it to you, Naruto, but it is also Sasuke's child. That's how it works."

"I know that!" Naruto says, "I mean, I know that, but teme's you know, a teme, and for them to have a child who is just like a teme, it gotta sucks a little bit, ya know!"

Kakashi sighs, his grey eyes glinting in slight amusement. "I thought you liked Sasuke," he said, slightly teasing, "even if he is, as you put it, a teme."

Naruto at least has the decency to blush, his arms flailing as he squawks. "Well I did and—I still do!" He pauses, sweating buckets. "I mean, well, kinda? I'm with Hinata now, and I like her more, obviously but—Um—ANYWAY!" He exclaims, forcefully steering himself away from the topic, making Kakashi chuckle good naturedly. "You know what I meant, Kaka-sensei!"

"Yes, well, there's genes," he says, still chuckling over the remnants of Naruto's embarrassment. Let it be known that Naruto and his crushes toward his teammates (yes, all of them) will never be forgotten. "And there's also the nurture part."

Naruto blinks. "Nurture?"

"Basically, how the child is raised," he explains, "they can develop habits through it."

"Oh!" Naruto brightens then, "So since Sakura-chan's there to keep them at bay, they won't become an asshole!" He exclaims without much tact, as if what he just sprouts from his mouth is the absolute fact.

Though, well, Kakashi isn't really sure about that. She definitely allowed Sasuke to step over her bac in the days when she was still infatuated with the Uchiha shinobi, and although that fangirling tendency has mellowed a little bit, it does pop out once in awhile in how she lets him get his way quite a few times, and also—

"It's my duty."

Those words still bring a sour taste in his mouth, and he wonders, really, how many things she had let slip in the name of "soulmate's duty".

He is willing to give her—and Sasuke, respectively—a benefit of doubt, however. They are, after all, adults now. They have responsibilities for their own choices and Kakashi—his Hokage position aside—has no place to criticize them based on their past mistakes. God knows he has lots of it himself, so who is he to talk?

This is a new thing for them, too, and as their former teacher and current leader, he has to believe in them.

"Well," he starts, then, his eyes crinkling into the usual close eyed smile. "I'm sure it will be alright."

Xxx

It's not alright.

"What," Kakashi deadpans, his grey eyes glaring into Sasuke's onyx ones, "did you just say?"

Sasuke stares at him evenly, not missing a beat as he answers, "I request permission for another travel outside Konoha."

Kakashi is suddenly very tempted to throw a fountain pen at him. Or just give his Very Disappointed and Done stare until Sasuke feels uncomfortable enough.

"I'm sorry, but what?" The Sixth Hokage repeats, incredulous. "Sasuke, your wife is pregnant."

He doesn't even blink. "Yes, I know that."

He knows that, of course he knows that, Kakashi's mind rants, but that doesn't explain why he's so eager to leave Konoha now!

He remembers the continued conversation with Naruto in the ramen stall, how Naruto mentioned that Sakura looked happy, as she should be—she loves kids after all, and to get one of her own must be quite a blessing—and that Sasuke looked happy and proud, as well.

Was Naruto wrong? He's one of the best when it comes to translating Sasuke's facial expressions, but was he wrong? Is Sasuke not happy about it after all?

"Is there anything wrong?" Kakashi asks, rubbing the back of his head in frustration. "Your marriage, are you unhappy somehow?"

"There is nothing wrong with my marriage," Sasuke answers, his tone chilling. He looks a bit irritated and defensive, mostlikely at the mention of how there could be something wrong with his marriage. "My marriage and what I want to do has nothing to do with each other."

Kakashi is perplexed.

"Sasuke," he says slowly, "Sakura is pregnant."

The Uchiha restrains an annoyed sigh. "Yes, we have already established that."

"You can't just up and leave when your wife is pregnant with your child!"

"I will visit," Sasuke amends, as if it will make it better.

"For how long?" Kakashi has to challenge, "the shortest time you spent in your journey is nine months, Sasuke. How am I supposed to be sure that you will be there for Sakura's pregnancy."

A pause.

"…It's just pregnancy."

"It's your child!"

"I believe I have found some of Kaguya's remnants. I have to go, Kakashi."

"You say that everytime," Kakashi grounds out, "It can wait. What you need to do now is say here, do normal missions and accompany her like the good husband you are."

"The Rabbit Goddess' remnants are—"

"Normal missions, Sasuke, or are you too great for it, now?"

"If you want her to be accompanied so badly," Sasuke says, his jaw tight and eyebrow twitching. "Then do it yourself."

Kakashi stares at him. "I'm not her husband, you know."

"Kakashi—"

"No, you are not given any permission to leave," he cuts him off, looking stern. "Either you stay here or you take Sakura with you, which I do not recommend. But at the very least she'll be able to spend actual time with her husband."

"She'll be a liability," Sasuke says quietly.

"Too bad, then!" Kakashi chirps happily, "then you have to stay here."

Sasuke looks ready to argue. Well, he's not having any of it.

"You're dismissed," he says with a wave, "go, now."

Sasuke leaves.

Xxx

Although Kakashi wants to believe that his brooding student will listen to reason, he also believes he knows him to some extent. Him and his stubbornness, that is.

Which is why Kakashi is not surprised when another request to travel comes from Sasuke.

This time, with Sakura in tow.

He's sorely disappointed, of course, but he's not surprised.

Seeing as Sakura has agreed, somehow, although Kakashi isn't surprised by it either, and that Sasuke is adamant in going outside of Konoha, somehow—well, Kakashi did say that if he wishes to leave, he has to take Sakura with her.

…He's going to get an earful from the Yamanaka for this, won't he?

Sighing in defeat, Kakashi gives the request a pass.

Let's hope none of them regrets this.